Summer

I'm not sure how half the summer has disappeared already, but it has.  I had it in my mind that our family would have a slower paced, relaxing summer.  A high expectation to be sure, but nonetheless, I was sure it would happen.  Now I'm dealing with the realization that our summer is not what I had envisioned.  As usual, I've had a hard time adjusting to dashed expectations.

We have accomplished much as a family so far this summer.  We pulled together a successful graduation party for Grace (more on that in a separate post), I finished up a 23 week long marathon of Bible study, five of the kids took three weeks of swimming lessons, Matt traveled to Alaska for a week on business and also to Denver (2 trips down, 1 to go!), we celebrated the Fourth of July (Matt and Paul were in the local parade) and we took a trip to my uncle's farm for a few days.

Matt in Alaska

We left Grace and Paul on the farm to work for the summer.  That was hard.  How is it my kids are old enough to leave home to work for the summer?  The years are short.  This will be good for the kids though, all the way around.  Come Fall, Grace's schedule will take her away from the house every day and it's good practice for all of us to get used to not having her here all of the time.

In the meantime, I'm reviving the lost skill of cleaning bathrooms and folding laundry (formerly Grace's jobs), Lydia is learning to vacuum carpets (only a temporary gig for her until Paul returns) and Elizabeth has been promoted to sous chef position, a job which she will likely hold for quite some time.  In other words, things around here are changing and as everyone knows, I'm not a fan of change.  I'm pretty sure the kids aren't enjoying it either.  However, it must be done.

I'm trying to cool my jets on my long "To Do" list as everything else in life seems to be taking twice as long (or more) than it used to.  The visions of decluttering projects, room redos and gourmet jam canning sessions are fast becoming forgotten dreams, along with all of the books I planned to read this summer.

We have managed to squeeze some fun into summer in little pockets here and there though.  The kids have gotten extra swimming time at Miss Peggy's and Aunt Julie's pools as well as the small town pool where my aunt and uncle live.  Isaac, who took swimming lessons for the first time this year and was a very reluctant learner, has now taken to the water as the proverbial duck to water.  With his life jacket on, he paddles every where the big kids go.

Last week I took the kids to 7-11 for free Slurpies and $1 hot dogs.  I used the promise of the treats to motivate the kids to clean up the house.  It sorta backfired on me, though.  The kids had never heard of Slurpies and weren't so sure they were worth the effort of a power cleaning session.  In the end, the house got picked up (sort of) and the kids found out that they really do like Slurpies.

Treats from 7-11 (take note of Jude's great fashion sense)

One night a couple of weeks ago after a very long day of single momming it while Matt was out of town, my friend texted me to say that her goat had birthed four babies that day.  She wanted us to come over and see them.  We loaded up and went on over.  The goats were adorable.  Joseph was especially delighted with them.  He's starting to grow out of the baby stage (he'll be one year this month--sniff).

I found a couch at a yard sale last Saturday.  I've been looking to replace the couch we bought off of Craigslist when we first moved here.  For the last couple of years, my searches on Craigslist and yard sales have turned up nothing.  This couch is a leather beauty with reclining ends, perfect for the family room.  The man who was selling it had just lost his wife and was downsizing.  His son even delivered it to our house. The couch had a couple of minor scratches on it.  I just covered them with brown Sharpie marker.  A thousand dollars in savings is worth a couple of scratches to me.  One week later, I'm still training Lydia to keep her sewing scissors OFF of the couch.  As others in the house know, Mama doesn't like cuts in her couches.  Knives are no longer tested for sharpness on furniture at our house.  (That would fall under the category of "Rules I Never Thought I'd Have to Make.")

This morning the kids were particularly stir crazy.  It's been really hot here for a week and we've been kind of holed up inside to stay cool.  Despite the heat, I told the kids to get on some water friendly shoes and get loaded into the van.  We headed to the water.  We saw Seagulls, Canadian Geese, a couple of pelicans and a pair of coots and everyone got their feet wet.

Speaking of birds, a few weeks ago I was on the back porch enjoying my mid afternoon iced tea when all of a sudden a Bald Eagle flew over the yard.  It was so close I could hear its wings swooshing and I could see the water dripping off of the sparkling fish that it had in its mouth.  Wow!  God's creation never ceases to amaze me.

Well, I'm off to inspect the kitchen clean up that Joel is supposed to be doing.  Then I'll read to the kids before quiet time.  Maybe we'll try to swim a bit in Miss Peggy's pool after dinner tonight.  I guess my "To Do" list will wait another day.  After all, these little ones are growing up way too fast.